Geranium plant named `Balcolilac`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `Balcolilac`, characterized by its numerous light lavender-colored double flowers; upright and trailing growth habit; basal branching; vigor; and medium green leaves with a faint maroon-colored zonation pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Balcolilac.

The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars with freely-branching and vigorous growth habit, medium or dark green-colored foliage, uniform flowering, and interesting flower and foliage colors.

The new Geranium originated from a cross made by the Inventor of the proprietary Pelargonium peltatum selection BFP-1137 as the male, or pollen parent, with the proprietary Pelargonium peltatum selection BFP-1370 as the female, or seed parent. The cultivar Balcolilac was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif., in December, 1996.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Arroyo Grande, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this new Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of `Balcolilac`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `Balcolilac` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Numerous light lavender-colored double flowers.

2. Upright and trailing growth habit.

3. Basal branching and vigorous.

4. Medium green leaves with faint dark maroon zonation pattern.

The new Geranium differs from plants of its sibling cultivar, `Balcolav` (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/257,091), in plant habit, leaf zonation pattern, flower form, flower size and number of petals per flowers.

The new Geranium differs from plants of its sibling cultivar, `Balcolburg` (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/257,098), in leaf zonation pattern, umbel size, number of flowers per umbel, flower form, flower size, number of petals per flower and flower color.

The new Geranium differs from plants of its sibling cultivar, `Balcolink` (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/257,099), in plant height, leaf size, leaf zonation pattern, number of flowers per umbel, flower form, flower size, number of petals per flower and flower color.

The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, Butterfly, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Arroyo Grande, Calif., plants of the new Geranium differ from plants of the cultivar Butterfly in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Geranium are not as broad as plants of the cultivar Butterfly.

2. Plants of the new Geranium have smaller flowers than plants of the cultivar Butterfly.

3. Plants of the new Geranium usually more petals per flower than plants of the cultivar Butterfly.

A detailed comparison of plants of the cultivar Balcolilac and the cultivar Butterfly, as grown side by side, appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of `Balcolilac`. Flower and foliage colors in the photograph may appear different from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Balcolilac has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in 10-cm pots in Arroyo Grande, Calif., under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about 20 to 22° C., night temperatures about 18 to 20° C. and light levels generally about 2,500 to 3,000 footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Pelargonium peltatum cultivar Balcolilac.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium peltatum selection BFP-1137.

Female parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium peltatum selection BFP-1370.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 7 days at 18° C.

Time to develop roots.--About 21 days at 18° C.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.--Upright and trailing growth habit. Appropriate for 10-cm and larger containers.

Crop time.--Starting with a rooted cutting, about twelve weeks are required to produced a finished flowering plant in 10-cm container.

Growth and branching habit.--Vigorous and basally branching with about three to five lateral branches at the base. Pinching, that is, removal of terminal apices, enhances branching.

Plant height (to top of foliage).--About 14 to 15 cm.

Plant width.--About 25 to 27 cm.

Lateral branches.--Length: About 12 to 15 cm. Internode length: About 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Color: 144A.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant, opposite. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 8 to 10. Length: About 4.6 to 5.1 cm. Width: About 7 to 8.2 cm. Shape: Peltate, palmately lobed. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cordate. Venation: Palmate. Texture: Leathery; shiny; slightly pubescent. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 137B. Young foliage, lower surface: 146B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A; zonation pattern, slight, 187A in color, about 3 to 5 mm in width. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 146A. Venation, upper surface: 146A. Venation, lower surface: 146A. Petiole: Length: About 4.3 to 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 to 2 mm. Color: 146A.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Light lavender-colored flowers. Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers arranged in substantially hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed above or beyond the foliage. At full flowering, usually about five to seven open umbels and five or six developing umbels per plant. Flowers double and round. Umbels persistent. Not fragrant.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Umbels.--Number of flowers per umbel: About 14 to 22. Diameter: About 8.4 to 9.5 cm. Height: About 5 to 6.5 cm.

Flowers.--Diameter: About 4.1 to 4.5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 to 1.3 cm.

Flower buds.--Length: About 1.5 to 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 9 to 10 mm. Shape: Elliptic, narrow.

Petals.--Quantity: About 16 to 20 petals and about 6 to 7 elongated petaloids per flower. Arrangement: Imbricate. Length: About 2.3 to 2.7 cm. Width: About 1.5 to 1.7 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety. Color, fully opened flowers: When opening, upper surface: 77B. When opening, lower surface: 84B. Fully opened, upper surface: 77C. Fully opened, lower surface: 84C.

Sepals.--Quantity: About 5, not imbricate. Length: About 1.4 to 1.5 cm. Width: About 5 to 6 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Pointed. Margin: Entire. Texture: Pilose. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144B.

Peduncle (umbel stem).--Length: About 13 to 15 cm. Angle: Erect to 30°. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: 146A.

Pedicel (individual flower stem).--Length: About 2.6 to 3.1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146A.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Anther size: About 2.5 to 3 mm. Anther color: 59B. Pollen color: 168A. Gynoecium: Ovary color: Green.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to Pelargonium has not been observed.

Seed development: Seed production has not been observed.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                         CHARACTERISTIC                                                                              `BALCOLILAC` `BUTTERFLY`                                          ______________________________________                                         PLANT HABIT  Upright, trailing                                                                           Upright, trailing                                    PLANT HEIGHT About 14 to 15 cm                                                                           About 13 to 14 cm                                    (to top of foliage)                                                            PLANT WIDTH  About 25 to 27 cm                                                                           About 30 to 31 cm                                    FLOWER DIAMETER                                                                             About 4.1 to 4.5 cm                                                                         About 5.5 to 6 cm                                    PETAL QUANTITY                                                                              About 16 to 20                                                                              About 8 to 10                                        PER FLOWER                                                                     WHEN OPENING,                                                                               77B          Background, 84A;                                     PETAL COLOR,              venation, slightly darker                            UPPER SURFACE             than 61A;                                                                      interveinal, 155D                                    WHEN OPENING,                                                                               84B          84C;                                                 PETAL COLOR,              venation, 61A                                        LOWER SURFACE                                                                  FULLY OPENED,                                                                               77C          Background, 84A;                                     PETAL COLOR,              spot, 78A                                            UPPER SURFACE                                                                  FULLY OPENED,                                                                               84C          84C                                                  PETAL COLOR,                                                                   LOWER SURFACE                                                                  ______________________________________                                     

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `Balcolilac`, as illustrated and described. 